Threshold Filtering

Threshold filters, following the guidance of Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) are used to exclude specific results values from the SEACAR Analysis. Based on the threshold filters, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) Flags are inserted into the SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode and SEACAR_QAQC_Description columns of the export data. The Include column indicates whether the QAQC Flag will also indicate that data are excluded from analysis. No data are excluded from the data export, but the analysis scripts can use the Include column to exclude data (1 to include, 0 to exclude).

Continuous Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold Sensor Type
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 6600 Series
Salinity ppt 0 70 6600 Series
Salinity ppt 0 70 YSI EXOs
Salinity ppt 0 70 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 YSI EXOs
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 6600 Series
pH pH 2 14 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
pH pH 2 14 6600 Series
pH pH 2 14 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 6600 Series
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0 100 6600 Series
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0 200 YSI EXOs
Turbidity NTU 0 4000 YSI EXOs
Turbidity NTU 0 1000 6600 Series
Turbidity NTU 0 4000 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Discrete Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0.000001 22
Salinity ppt 0 70
Water Temperature Degrees C 3 40
pH 2 13
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0.000001 310
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0.005000001 100
Turbidity NTU 0 -
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) mg/L 0 -
Chlorophyll a uncorrected for pheophytin ug/L 0 -
Chlorophyll a corrected for pheophytin ug/L 0 -
Secchi Depth m 0.000001 50
Light Extinction Coefficient m^1 0 -
Colored dissolved organic matter, CDOM PCU 0 -
Fluorescent dissolved organic matter, FDOM QSE 0 -
Total Nitrogen mg/L 0 -
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen TKN mg/L 0 -
NO2+3 Filtered mg/L 0 -
NH4 Filtered mg/L 0 -
Total Phosphorus mg/L 0 -
PO4 Filtered mg/L 0 -
Ammonia- Un-ionized (NH3) mg/L 0 -
Nitrate (N) mg/L 0 -
Nitrite (N) mg/L 0 -
Nitrogen, organic mg/L 0 -
Quality Assurance Flags inserted based on threshold checks listed in Table 1 & 2
SEACAR QAQC Description Include SEACAR QAQCFlagCode
Exceeds Maximum threshold. Not verified in raw data No 2Q
Exceeds Maximum threshold. Verified in raw data No 3Q
Below Minimum threshold. Not verified in raw data No 4Q
Below Minimum threshold. Verified in raw data No 5Q
Within threshold tolerance Yes 6Q
No defined thresholds for this parameter Yes 7Q

Value Qualifiers

Value qualifier codes included within the data are used to exclude certain results from the analysis. The data are retained in the data export files, but the analysis uses the Include column to filter the results.

STORET and WIN value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from STORET and WIN data are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports.

Value Qualifier codes excluded from analysis
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include MDL Description
STORET-WIN H No 0 Value based on field kit determination; results may not be accurate
STORET-WIN J No 0 Estimated value
STORET-WIN V No 0 Analyte was detected at or above method detection limit
STORET-WIN Y No 0

Discrete Water Quality Value Qualifiers

The following value qualifiers are highlighted in the Discrete Water Quality section of this report. An exception is made for Program 476 - Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network and data flagged with Value Qualifier H are included for this program only.

H - Value based on field kit determiniation; results may not be accurate. This code shall be used if a field screening test (e.g., field gas chromatograph data, immunoassay, or vendor-supplied field kit) was used to generate the value and the field kit or method has not been recognized by the Department as equivalent to laboratory methods.

I - The reported value is greater than or equal to the laboratory method detection limit but less than the laboratory practical quantitation limit.

Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time. This code shall be used if the value is derived from a sample that was prepared or analyzed after the approved holding time restrictions for sample preparation or analysis.

S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody. The value reported is the depth of the waterbody at the location of the Secchi disk measurement.

U - Indicates that the compound was analyzed for but not detected. This symbol shall be used to indicate that the specified component was not detected. The value associated with the qualifier shall be the laboratory method detection limit. Unless requested by the client, less than the method detection limit values shall not be reported

Systemwide Monitoring Program (SWMP) value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from the SWMP continuous program are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports. SWMP Qualifier Codes are indicated by QualifierSource=SWMP.

SWMP Value Qualifier codes
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include Description
SWMP -1 Yes Optional parameter not collected
SWMP -2 No Missing data
SWMP -3 No Data rejected due to QA/QC
SWMP -4 No Outside low sensor range
SWMP -5 No Outside high sensor range
SWMP 0 Yes Passed initial QA/QC checks
SWMP 1 No Suspect data
SWMP 2 Yes Reserved for future use
SWMP 3 Yes
SWMP 4 Yes Historical: Pre-auto QA/QC
SWMP 5 Yes Corrected data

Water Column

The water column habitat extends from the surface of all water bodies to the bottom sediments and encompasses the different features found in the water at different depths (National Oceanographic Center, 2016). The water column habitat must be viewed in relation to its interconnectedness with other habitats. A healthy water column is an integral component in ensuring a healthy marine and coastal ecosystem. Having a flourishing marine and coastal ecosystem in Florida is necessary to support a strong economy. The health of the water column is dependent upon factors as diverse as land use (e.g., agriculture, mining, forestry practices); human population growth; emissions, (e.g., power plants, automobiles, wastewater); climate (e.g., rainfall, temperature, winds and currents); and decadal trends (e.g., El Niño/La Niña, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, climate change).

The water column is composed of various physical, chemical and biological features, and only a small number of them are adequately monitored. Features of the water column that are monitored are used as indicators of the water column health and help assess the status of other habitats. These indicators include nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus); water quality (dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH); water clarity (Secchi depth, turbidity, chlorophyll-a and colored dissolved organic matter); and nekton (fish, macroinvertebrates and megafauna).

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Analysis

Indicators must have a minimum of five to ten years, depending on the habitat, of data within the geographic range of the analysis to be included in the analysis. Ten years of data are required for discrete parameters, and five years of data are required for continuous parameters. If there are insufficient years of data, the number of years of data available will be noted and labeled as “insufficient data to conduct analysis”. Further, for the preferred Seasonal Kendall-Tau test, there must be data from at least two months in common across at least two consecutive years within the RCP managed area being analyzed. Values that pass both of these tests will be included in the analysis and be labeled as Use_In_Analysis = TRUE. Any that fail either test will be excluded from the analyses and labeled as Use_In_Analysis = FALSE.

Water Quality - Discrete

The following files were used in the discrete analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_corrected_for_pheophytin-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_uncorrected_for_pheophytin-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Colored_dissolved_organic_matter_CDOM-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_pH-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Salinity-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Secchi_Depth-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Nitrogen-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Phosphorus-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Suspended_Solids_TSS-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Turbidity-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Water_Temperature-2024-Mar-27.txt

Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin - Discrete Water Quality

Chlorophyll-a is monitored as a measure of microalgae growing in the water. Algae are a natural part of coastal and aquatic ecosystems but in excess can cause poor water quality and clarity, and decreased levels of dissolved oxygen.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 2434 2000 2023
103 478 2020 2021
514 171 2020 2023

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2003 3 1 33.3
2004 79 5 6.3 34 43.0
2005 30 1 3.3 10 33.3
2006 34 2 5.9 24 70.6
2012 78 1 1.3
2016 38 1 2.6
2019 7 1 14.3
2020 585 1 0.2 27 4.6
2021 1113 13 1.2 10 0.9
2022 568 3 0.5 2 0.3
2023 421 3 0.7

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program

Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin - Discrete Water Quality

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 5247 1999 2023
514 658 2001 2023
103 292 2000 2021
115 9 2000 2004
118 5 2000 2006

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2004 194 100 51.5 3 1.6
2005 188 96 51.1 11 5.8
2006 190 58 30.5 3 1.6
2007 181 31 17.1
2009 189 7 3.7
2010 190 15 7.9 4 2.1
2011 198 70 35.4 26 13.1
2012 230 91 39.6 24 10.4
2013 144 83 57.6 32 22.2
2014 145 83 57.2 18 12.4
2015 155 46 29.7 10 6.4
2016 182 57 31.3
2017 76 38 50.0 4 5.3
2019 88 1 1.1
2020 560 17 3.0
2021 1015 83 8.2 2 0.2 4 0.4
2022 664 56 8.4 7 1.0
2023 565 80 14.2 4 0.7

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program

Colored Dissolved Organic Matter - Discrete Water Quality

Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) occurs naturally in every water body. It is made up of mainly plant material, algae and bacteria. The composition is determined by its source; plants, soil, algae, and wastewater are common sources.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Colored Dissolved Organic Matter
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Colored Dissolved Organic Matter
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 579 2020 2023
514 192 2001 2022
5008 60 2021 2023

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Colored Dissolved Organic Matter
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q
2020 91 27 29.7
2021 152 9 5.9 13 8.6
2022 215 11 5.1 6 2.8
2023 214 31 14.5 1 0.5

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program

Dissolved Oxygen - Discrete Water Quality

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is a key indicator of water quality. Oxygen enters surface waters by air-sea gas exchange, by wind action, or as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis. The actual quantity of DO in aquatic environments is dependent on the above processes as well as water temperature and salinity.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Dissolved Oxygen
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 50187 1995 2023
69 25181 1989 2017
4067 11501 1993 2021
95 2365 1974 2018
103 1543 2003 2021
5008 60 2021 2023
115 26 2000 2004
60 6 2014 2014
118 5 2000 2006

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program
60 - Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) - Gulf of Mexico Fall & Summer Shrimp/Groundfish Survey
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Dissolved Oxygen in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation - Discrete Water Quality

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 18155 2004 2023
4067 10936 1993 2021
95 638 2002 2018
102 66 1992 1992
5008 60 2021 2023

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve

pH - Discrete Water Quality

The pH of water is the measure of how acidic or basic the water body is on a scale of 0-14, with lower readings indicating acidic and higher readings indicating basic, and a pH of 7 being neutral. Florida’s natural waters fall between 6.5 and 8.5 on this scale. A water body’s pH can change due to precipitation, geology, vegetation, water pollution and air pollution.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for pH
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for pH
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 47993 1995 2023
69 24816 1989 2017
4067 8940 1993 2021
95 2301 1955 2018
103 1561 2020 2021
5008 60 2021 2023
115 26 2000 2004

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for pH in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve

Salinity - Discrete Water Quality

Salinity is a measure of the amount of salt in the water. In estuarine ecosystems, salinity is influenced by precipitation, evaporation, surface-water inputs, and exchange with coastal waters.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Salinity
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Salinity
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 47851 1995 2023
69 25454 1989 2017
95 7189 1954 2018
4067 7180 1993 2021
102 66 1992 1992
3 46 2018 2022
115 26 2000 2004
560 24 2021 2023
118 24 2015 2020
60 21 2014 2014

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch
3 - Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) South Florida Program Synoptic Shipboard Surveys
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program
560 - Big Bend Seagrasses & Nature Coast Aquatic Preserves - Seagrass Monitoring
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment
60 - Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) - Gulf of Mexico Fall & Summer Shrimp/Groundfish Survey

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Salinity in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve

Secchi Depth - Discrete Water Quality

Secchi depth is a measure of the transparency or clarity of the water by a device called a Secchi disk. A Secchi disk is a black and white disk that is lowered into the water on a cord. The Secchi depth is the depth at which the disk can no longer be seen. The deeper the Secchi depth, the greater the water clarity.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Secchi Depth
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Secchi Depth
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
69 22007 1994 2017
5002 2412 1999 2023
514 702 2001 2023
103 699 2020 2021
5008 30 2021 2022
115 8 2000 2004
60 2 2014 2014

Program names:

69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program
60 - Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) - Gulf of Mexico Fall & Summer Shrimp/Groundfish Survey

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Secchi Depth
Year N_Total N_S perc_S
2015 1034 25 2.4
2016 1445 10 0.7
2017 1229 4 0.3
2020 419 94 22.4
2021 1277 261 20.4
2022 765 291 38.0
2023 487 177 36.3

Note: 1S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region

Total Nitrogen - Discrete Water Quality

Nitrogen and Phosphorous are key nutrients that provide nourishment essential for the growth and maintenance of aquatic plants and animals; however, excess nutrients can cause harmful algal blooms and other water quality concerns. Nutrients enter water bodies several ways, including runoff from rain events and atmospheric deposition from natural and industrial sources.

Total Nitrogen Calculation:

The logic for calculated Total Nitrogen was provided by Kevin O’Donnell and colleagues at FDEP (with the help of Jay Silvanima, Watershed Monitoring Section). The following logic is used, in this order, based on the availability of specific nitrogen components.

  1. TN = TKN + NO3O2;
  2. TN = TKN + NO3 + NO2;
  3. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO3O2;
  4. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO2 + NO3;
  5. TN = TKN + NO3;
  6. TN = ORGN + NH4 + NO3;

Additional Information:

  • Rules for use of sample fraction:
    • FDEP report that if both “Total” and “Dissolved” are reported, only “Total” is used. If the total is not reported, they do use dissolved as a best available replacement.
    • An analysis of all SEACAR data shows that 90% of all possible TN calculations can be done using nitrogen components with the same sample fraction, rather than use nitrogen components with mixed total/dissolved sample fractions. In other words, TN can be calculated when TKN and NO3O2 are both total sample fraction, or when both are dissolved sample fraction. This is important, because then the calculated TN value is not based on components with mixed sample fractions.
  • Values inserted into data:
    • ParameterName = “Total Nitrogen”
    • SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode = “1Q”
    • SEACAR_QAQC_Description = “SEACAR Calculated”
      Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
      Discrete Water Quality
      Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Total Nitrogen
      Discrete Water Quality
      The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site
Programs contributing data for Total Nitrogen
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 14828 1999 2023
514 679 2001 2023
103 69 2000 2006
115 9 2000 2004

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Total Nitrogen
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2007 629 3 0.5 1 0.2
2008 708 1 0.1
2010 617 2 0.3
2011 411 2 0.5
2013 501 2 0.4
2015 615 1 0.2 3 0.5
2016 669 12 1.8 1 0.1
2017 586 6 1.0 2 0.3
2020 562 45 8

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Total Phosphorus - Discrete Water Quality

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Total Phosphorus
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Total Phosphorus
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 13941 1999 2023
103 723 2000 2021
514 679 2001 2023
115 9 2000 2004

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Total Phosphorus
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2004 848 35 4.1
2005 683 24 3.5
2006 706 18 2.5 1 0.1
2009 648 2 0.3 6 0.9
2010 652 6 0.9 59 9.1
2011 582 13 2.2 154 26.5
2012 668 52 7.8
2013 530 3 0.6
2014 549 6 1.1 24 4.4
2015 590 1 0.2
2016 607 15 2.5
2017 503 3 0.6
2020 705 105 14.9 48 6.8 45 6.4
2021 1415 239 16.9 21 1.5 62 4.4
2022 716 240 33.5 2 0.3 120 16.8
2023 556 171 30.8 163 29.3

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
514 - Florida LAKEWATCH Program

Total Suspended Solids - Discrete Water Quality

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are solid particles suspended in water that exceed 2 microns in size and can be trapped by a filter.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Total Suspended Solids
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Total Suspended Solids
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 11841 1999 2023
103 484 2020 2021

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Total Suspended Solids
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_U perc_U
2000 4 4 100.0
2003 647 1 0.1
2004 702 23 3.3 1 0.1
2005 660 25 3.8 1 0.1
2006 624 17 2.7 13 2.1
2007 607 19 3.1
2008 621 2 0.3
2009 582 3 0.5 1 0.2
2010 600 20 3.3 6 1.0
2011 474 18 3.8 3 0.6
2012 646 60 9.3 26 4.0
2013 550 9 1.6
2014 586 19 3.2 19 3.2
2015 584 12 2.0 6 1.0
2016 617 29 4.7 5 0.8
2017 583 20 3.4 4 0.7
2020 557 11 2.0 3 0.5
2021 1063 14 1.3 7 0.7
2022 521 13 2.5 3 0.6
2023 407 5 1.2 2 0.5

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Turbidity - Discrete Water Quality

Turbidity results from suspended solids in the water, including silts, clays, tannins, industrial wastes, sewage and plankton, which are all factors that contribute to how clouded or murky a water column is. Turbidity is caused by soil erosion, excess nutrients, pollutants, and physical forces such as winds, currents and bottom feeders.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Turbidity
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Turbidity
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 21362 1995 2023
103 621 2006 2021
95 323 2000 2016

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Turbidity
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2004 962 4 0.4
2005 875 1 0.1
2006 948 2 0.2
2007 898 3 0.3
2009 907 3 0.3 8 0.9 1 0.1
2010 982 5 0.5 10 1.0
2011 969 3 0.3 1 0.1
2012 896 3 0.3 1 0.1
2013 827 4 0.5 4 0.5
2014 784 13 1.7 37 4.7
2015 729 6 0.8 2 0.3
2016 771 1 0.1
2020 626 1 0.2
2021 1334 8 0.6 1 0.1
2022 654 2 0.3
2023 551 5 0.9

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Water Temperature - Discrete Water Quality

Temperature determines the capacity of water to hold oxygen. Cooler water can hold more dissolved oxygen because water molecules are more tightly packed, making it harder for oxygen to escape. Additionally, as water temperature increases, fish and other aquatic organisms become more active and consume oxygen at a faster rate.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Water Temperature
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Water Temperature
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 50600 1995 2023
69 25518 1989 2017
4067 10379 1993 2021
95 7590 1954 2018
103 1562 2004 2021
102 66 1992 1992
5008 60 2021 2023
115 26 2000 2004
60 6 2014 2014

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
4067 - Tampa Bay Benthic Monitoring
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch
5008 - Project COAST (Coastal Assessment Team) - Springs Coast Ecosystem Region
115 - Environmental Monitoring Assessment Program
60 - Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) - Gulf of Mexico Fall & Summer Shrimp/Groundfish Survey

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Water Temperature in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve

Water Quality - Continuous

The following files were used in the continuous analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_pH_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Salinity_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Turbidity_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Water_Temperature_SW-2024-Mar-23.txt

Continuous Water Quality
Map showing Continuous Water Quality Monitoring sampling locations within the boundaries of Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve. Sites marked as Use In Analysis are featured in this report.

Water Temperature - Continuous Water Quality

CWBF1

National Data Buoy Center (5)
Continuous Water Quality

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

The data file used is: All_SAV_Parameters-2024-Mar-29.txt

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) refers to plants and plant-like macroalgae species that live entirely underwater. The two primary categories of SAV inhabiting Florida estuaries are benthic macroalgae and seagrasses. They often grow together in dense beds or meadows that carpet the seafloor. Macroalgae include multicellular species of green, red and brown algae that often live attached to the substrate by a holdfast. They tend to grow quickly and can tolerate relatively high nutrient levels, making them a threat to seagrasses and other benthic habitats in areas with poor water quality. In contrast, seagrasses are grass-like, vascular, flowering plants that are attached to the seafloor by extensive root systems. Seagrasses occur throughout the coastal areas of Florida, including protected bays and lagoons as well as deeper offshore waters on the continental shelf. Seagrasses have taken advantage of the broad, shallow shelf and clear water to produce two of the most extensive seagrass beds anywhere in continental North America.

Parameters

Percent Cover measures the fraction of an area of seafloor that is covered by SAV, usually estimated by evaluating multiple small areas of seafloor. Percent cover is often estimated for total SAV, individual types of vegetation (seagrass, attached algae, drift algae) and individual species.

Frequency of Occurrence was calculated as the number of times a taxon was observed in a year divided by the number of sampling events, multiplied by 100. Analysis is conducted at the quadrat level and is inclusive of all quadrats (i.e., quadrats evaluated using Braun-Blanquet, modified Braun-Blanquet, and percent cover.”

Species

Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) is the largest of the Florida seagrasses, with longer, thicker blades and deeper root structures than any of the other seagrasses. It is considered a climax seagrass species.

Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) is an early colonizer of vegetated areas and usually grows in water too shallow for other species except widgeon grass. It can often tolerate larger salinity ranges than other seagrass species. Shoal grass is characterized by thin, flat blades, that are narrower than turtle grass blades.

Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) is easily recognizable because its leaves are thin and cylindrical instead of the flat, ribbon-like form shared by many other seagrass species. The leaves can grow up to half a meter in length. Manatee grass is usually found in mixed seagrass beds or small, dense monospecific patches.

Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) grows in both fresh and salt water and is widely distributed throughout Florida’s estuaries in less saline areas, particularly in inlets along the east coast. This species resembles shoal grass in certain environments but can be identified by the pointed tips of its leaves.

Three species of Halophila spp. are found in Florida - Star grass (Halophila engelmannii), Paddle grass (Halophila decipiens), and Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii). These are smaller, more fragile seagrasses than other Florida species and are considered ephemeral. They grow along a single long rhizome, with short blades. These species are not well-studied, although surveys are underway to define their ecological roles.

Notes

Star grass, Paddle grass, and Johnson’s seagrass will be grouped together and listed as Halophila spp. in the following managed areas. This is because several surveys did not specify to the species level:

  • Banana River Aquatic Preserve

  • Indian River-Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve

  • Indian River-Vero Beach to Ft. Pierce Aquatic Preserve

  • Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve

  • Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve

  • Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve

  • Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve

  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

SAV - Temporal Scope
Maps showing the temporal scope of SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve by Program name.

Sampling locations by Program:

SAV - Sampling Map
Map showing SAV sampling sites within the boundaries of Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve. The point size reflects the number of samples at a given sampling site.

Western Pinellas County Seagrass Monitoring - Program 564
N_Data YearMin YearMax Collection Method Sample Locations
8342 2011 2019 Percent Cover 441
Big Bend Seagrasses & Nature Coast Aquatic Preserves - Seagrass Monitoring - Program 560
N_Data YearMin YearMax Collection Method Sample Locations
106 2021 2023 Modified Braun Blanquet 8
122 2022 2023 Percent Cover 8
Tampa Bay Seagrass Monitoring - Program 565
N_Data YearMin YearMax Collection Method Sample Locations
14772 1998 2022 Braun Blanquet 27

SAV
Median percent cover by species in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve. Linear mixed-effects models are applied to each species to produce species trends. The trendlines are then isolated and reproduced below for ease of viewing. The LME results are available in table form beneath the supplemental trendplot below.
SAV

SAV
SAV

SAV
Generalized additive models for each species in Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve. Species must have at least 10 years of data to be evaluated.

Drift algae, Total seagrass, Attached algae, No grass in Quadrat, and Total SAV are excluded from the analyses.

Nekton

The data file used is: All_NEKTON_Parameters-2024-Mar-27.txt
Nekton

Coral Reef

The data file used is: All_CORAL_Parameters-2024-Mar-28.txt
Coral